The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #4)

“He said bad things about my Momma,” Legacy said with a trace of anger in his voice.

“He said that because he wanted you to be angry so you would try to fight in earnest. He didn’t mean those things any more than I want you to get hurt by Zoelyn’s powers. You needed motivation to hit your father, and Zoelyn needs a reason to control her powers. She doesn’t want to hurt you at all, and she will do everything to keep from hurting you,” Seth explained.

“Legacy, I can’t help it. I can’t control the powers. Please, no,” Zoelyn sobbed and shook her head frantically at the child.

“She is scared,” Seth explained in a soothing voice and smiled at Legacy. “We need to show her that she can control her power if she really, really wants to.”

“Finn!” Zoelyn screeched, her voice echoing off the walls of the throne room. She had no idea where he was or if he could hear her, but if he did, he would stop this. She had no doubts on what the Lord of Death would think of Seth jeopardizing his only son.

“He can’t hear you. He isn’t even in his domain right now,” Seth informed her with a faint smile. “Legacy, your daddy really doesn’t want you to do this,” Zoelyn gasped in desperation.

“If we let Zoelyn give up on herself right now she will never know true happiness, Legacy. She will never be able to touch another living creature or go swimming in the river with you. She will never know love or enjoy true friendship. As long as she is governed by her curse she will always be watching others live, but never living herself.” Seth paused and pushed her hand toward the child once more. “When your Momma died in Arovan everyone said she was dead, but you and Valor had faith in her and you called her back. Right now, you and I can save Zoey just like that. All we have to do is have faith in her.”

The indecision on Legacy’s face vanished at once with Seth’s last words and his tiny hand pressed against her open palm firmly. “I have faith,” he whispered.

“No!” Zoelyn screamed kicking against the chair and pulling on her arm with every ounce of strength she had. She could feel the first kiss of her curse already draining the child. Seth’s grip on her tightened and her panic rose. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head away from Legacy. She didn’t want to see the life fade from the child and she hated Seth more than anything for forcing this upon her. It was a thousand times worse than what Nicoli Blackwolf had done to her with the prisoner. That man had been a stranger and she had known he was guilty, and it had still sickened her. Legacy was her friend and she loved him. If she killed him, that would be it for her. It was a guilt she couldn’t live with. “No,” she hissed repeating the word aloud as she forced her curse back down. The pressure on her hand eased, but she couldn’t force herself to look. In her mind she could already see the shriveled husk of Legacy’s tiny form curled on the cold stone floor before her.

“Open your eyes, Zoey,” Seth whispered as he released her arms.

She moved at once, whirling on him with more anger than she had ever felt in her life. “You bastard!” she railed as her fist connected solidly with his face. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she knew her voice was hysterical, but she didn’t care. Seth stood impassively as she struck him again and again until her anger receded to a low throb of despair. Her curses faded to broken sobs and she bowed her head as she backed away from him.

“You really shouldn’t make her angry again, Seth. She is meaner than Momma when she is upset,” Legacy observed from behind her.

Shock silenced her tears at once and she turned slowly to look down at the small boy. He had backed away from the chair and was watching her with wide violet eyes. If her curse had affected him at all there was no sign. He looked just as healthy as he had before he touched her hand.

“You have to face your fears to conquer them. Congratulations, Zoey you just controlled your power for the first time,” Seth said quietly.

She turned slowly to stare at him and shook her head slowly. “I hate you so much right now,” she whispered. “You had no way of knowing I wouldn’t hurt him, and you know how much he means to me. You forced me to violence and I have never acted in violen ce before in my life. Violence begets violence Seth, and I despise it.”

His expression changed at once with her last words and Seth took a slow step back from her. “Where did you hear those words?” he asked in a tone of voice she had never heard him use before. It wasn’t fear lacing his words, it was uncertainty. She had unsettled him with the words, though she didn’t know why.

“My guardian in Arovan. He taught me that violence never solves anything and he was right. I live my life by what he showed me and you just made me turn from everything I believe in,” Zoelyn replied coldly. She had no idea what had unnerved him, but she was relishing in it. He deserved to squirm after what he had just put her through.

“What was his name?” Seth asked hesitantly as he took another step back from her.

“Dominic,” Zoelyn answered quietly, her eyes moving past Seth to Finn as he appeared behind the Assassin. It was obvious Seth hadn’t noticed Finn’s arrival yet, but by the expression on Finn’s face, it wouldn’t be long before he did. It was the first time she had ever seen the Lord of Death truly angry, and just the sight of it chilled her blood. Swallowing heavily she took a step back toward Legacy.